Studies suggest that vaccinated people are protected against new variants of Covid-19

The UK government is “suspending” plans to roll out daily rapid tests for Covid-19 on close contacts of positive cases for students and staff at English secondary schools and colleges, it said on Wednesday.

A government spokesman said the change in plans was the result of updated advice from UK science advisers. ‘NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England have revised their advice and concluded that given the prevalence and higher transmission rates of the new variant, further evaluation work is needed to ensure that it achieves its objective to break the chains of transmission. and reduce virus cases in the community, ”the spokesperson said.

“We are therefore suspending daily contact tests in all but a small number of high schools and colleges, where they will continue alongside a detailed assessment.

In a statement, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace raised concerns over the most transmissible variant of Covid-19 discovered in the UK as the reason for the change, noting that “the pandemic has entered a new phase ”and that the balance between risks and benefits for daily Covid-19 testing is now“ uncertain ”and has recommended that the government suspend the deployment of daily contact testing.

The Covid VOC202012 / 01 strain was discovered in the UK and has been widespread in the South East of England since November 2020.

The high school and college mass testing program was slated to start in January to help identify asymptomatic cases among students and staff and reduce the need for self-isolation using 30-minute lateral flow tests .

It provided for daily testing for all staff and students who have been “in close contact with a confirmed case, reducing the need for self-isolation” for all high schools and colleges, as well as weekly rapid tests for everything. high school and college staff. , according to the Department of Education.

National lockdowns across England have forced schools to remain closed since January 5, but children of key workers are still allowed to attend. PHE confirmed that schools should continue to test staff and students who currently attend schools.

While the daily Covid-19 testing in schools was hailed by UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson as a “milestone in our work to keep schools and colleges open to all” in December, the Scientists have expressed concerns that the tests may not be precise enough, and could falsely reassure people and increase the spread of the coronavirus.